I was stepping onto the cockpit when I saw this big ole friendly dog at the bow of a motorboat. Rocket, we was his name, and he was nearly as big as this 12 foot boat. I waved and the real Captain of this vessel stopped and introduced himself. He said he and his wife had a custom built 50-foot motorboat that would support them for 2 or 3,000 miles off shore with the fuel tanks, storage and creature features. They had traveled much further than the Chesapeake and had ventured to the Bahamas and even navigated the Mississippi River among the 300-foot barges. (The Mississippi has always been a busy waterway from when Huck Finn's was dodging steamboats on his raft until today. Its strong currents, big bends and heavy traffic prove difficult.) They sold their boat last year but it is still in the Chesapeake to serve out its time. By the way, 20 years is still young for a boat. Remember "Beautiful Star" was 30 years old when we bought her.
Should be a clear night and good for stargazing. Signing off for now.